Vena Cheng

Vena Cheng

Vena Cheng

Practice & Background

Vena Cheng is a senior consultant in Akin Gump's litigation practice, with focus on white collar and government defense and dispute resolution. Over the past decade, Ms. Cheng advised major Chinese and foreign companies on a wide variety of internal investigations, white collar criminal defense and antitrust matters, as well as contractual and tortious disputes. Ms. Cheng has extensive experience with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA). She has conducted internal investigations and defended U.S. and Asian companies in enforcement actions by U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) relating to conduct in Asia. She has also assisted many clients on due diligence for transactions relating to acquisitions of Asian companies. She has a deep understanding of practices across a number of industries, including manufacturing, medical devices and pharmaceutical and technology.

Ms. Cheng obtained her LL.B from King’s College, University of London and her P.C.LL. from University of Hong Kong. Ms. Cheng is admitted in New York, Hong Kong and England and Wales (non-practicing).

Representative Matters

FCPA and Anticorruption Related Matters

representing a manufacturer of mining machinery in conducting an internal investigation of potential violations of the FCPA in its PRC operations

represented a private equity fund in anticorruption due diligence of an acquisition of a PRC white goods company

represented a U.S. corporation in the technology sector in conducting an internal investigation of potential violations of the FCPA in its PRC and Hong Kong sales operations

represented a U.S.-listed corporation in the computer technology sector in an internal investigation of potential violations of the FCPA in its PRC sales and after-sales services operations

represented a U.S.-listed computer technology company in conducting FCPA due diligence related to an acquisition in China

represented a U.S. medical devices manufacturer in conducting an internal investigation of potential violations of the FCPA in its PRC manufacturing and sales operations

represented sponsors for an initial public offering of a pharmaceutical company in conducting bribery and corruption-related due diligence

represented a CEO of a PRC corporation in the environmental protection industry in the defense of an SEC investigation involving allegations of fraud and other potential violations of U.S. securities laws and the FCPA

represented a U.S. food and beverage corporation in conducting an internal investigation of potential violation of the FCPA in its PRC operations

represented a U.S.-listed corporation in an investigation involving allegations of an employee in its PRC operations soliciting kickbacks from vendors

represented a Singapore corporation in conducting corruption and bribery due diligence related to an acquisition in China

represented a U.S.-listed private equity firm in conducting FCPA due diligence related to an acquisition in China

represented a number of Hong Kong companies in investigations by the Independent Commission Against Corruption.

Other White Collar and Government Defense Matters

representing a retailer in conducting an internal investigation of potential sales irregularities in its PRC operations

representing a securities brokerage in an SFC investigation

represented a U.S.-listed corporation in the technology sector in conducting an internal investigation of revenue recognition issues in its PRC and Taiwan operations

represented a U.S.-listed Chinese company in an SEC and DOJ investigation involving allegations of fraud and other potential violations of U.S. securities laws

represented Hong Kong, Chinese and BVI Investors in insider trading litigation being prosecuted by the SEC in the Southern District of New York

represented a U.S.-listed technology company in its internal investigation of potential violations of import-export laws and accounting regulations in Taiwan

represented an accounting firm in internal investigations prior to potential SEC investigations and securities litigation relating to the auditing of New York-listed PRC corporations

represented a bank in relation to US money laundering investigations, assisting in reviewing bank standard documentation, client and transaction records

represented a Hong Kong company with Korean shareholders and factories in the PRC in relation to shareholders’ disputes and defending criminal investigations

represented a number of Hong Kong companies in investigations by the Commercial Crimes Bureau

represented a number of companies in defending environmental and work safety prosecutions in the Magistrates’ Courts.

Contentious Antitrust Matters

represented a PRC company in antitrust price fixing class actions in federal and state courts in the United States

represented an Asian airline in a price-fixing investigation.

Commercial Disputes and Miscellaneous Contentious Matters

representing a U.S. investment fund in respect of disputes arising from its joint venture in China

represented a Singaporean citizen in commercial disputes relating to companies in Hong Kong and United Kingdom involving forged documents

represented a European bank in enforcing its security interests in a New York borrower’s goods on consignment in Hong Kong

represented a state-owned corporation in France in respect of disputes arising from its joint ventures in China

represented a PRC company in litigation against a debtor and guarantor in Hong Kong

represented an international investment corporation in a dispute against a PRC bank. The amount in dispute is in excess of US$500 million

represented a Bermudan company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, with subsidiaries manufacturing printed circuit boards in the PRC, in a dispute with a U.S. sales and marketing agent over alleged breaches of the sales representative agreements. Arbitration was commenced in New York at the International Centre for Dispute Resolution under its international arbitration rules. The parties later engaged in a mediation under the auspices of JAMS and successfully resolved their differences

represented a U.S.-listed company in a large insurance claim relating to an explosion at a power plant in the United States; the dispute was resolved shortly after the discovery process was completed on settlement terms favorable to the client

represented a Hong Kong securities company defending litigation where the receivers of another company claimed damages, alleging an undervalue sale of its assets

represented the liquidators of a group of securities and finance companies to recover outstanding debts due from over 150 debtors

represented a U.S. company in appointing receivers for a Hong Kong debtor company; the receivers, with the assistance of the legal team, recovered a significant proportion of the debt and successfully negotiated a settlement proposal for repayment of the outstanding amount with the management of the debtor company within 48 hours of the company entering into receivership

represented a number of charitable organizations on a pro bono basis on a wide range of legal issues.

Awards & Accolades

Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award and Individual Gold Award, The Law Society of Hong Kong Pro Bono and Community Service Awards 2016

Public Services

Ms. Cheng has been appointed by the Government of the Hong Kong SAR as:

Member of Innovation and Technology Venture Fund Advisory Committee

Member of Hong Kong Housing Authority

Member of the Energy Advisory Committee

Adjudicator of the Registration of Persons Tribunal; and

Member of the Criminal and Law Enforcement Injuries Compensation Boards.

Ms. Cheng has also been appointed as a member of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference.